All of us have a list of priorities, made up of things and people that we give value and time. At times it may even seem hard to know and understand which person or thing should get the most attention, for some people that might be their job, education, ministry, or their spouse. 

As Christian, we have been taught that we must have our priorities in order: God, family, church, and then everything else. However, we all have struggled with this, we have questioned and felt that at some point in our lives we have messed this up; we have probably spent too much time with friends, rather than reading the word or praying, we might have skip spending quality time with a loved one because we had to do ministry. These things have nothing to do with priorities as I don’t believe that we can just put God on a list and that’s it. 

In the first chapter of the book of Colossians, we come across some of the most important verses in the whole Bible; these verses speak of who Christ is. Verse fifteen begins like this: ”Christ is the visible image of the invisible God…” (NLT); then verse eighteen draws us a picture of His supremacy and preeminence (superiority), and this is where I want to focus. 

“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.” Col 1.18 NLT

You see, based on Col 1.18, Christ is supreme and first over everything; which means that He isn’t just taking a place on the list, He is over everything we have put on it. Understanding this will help us let everything else in our lives fall into the right place. 

Christ First 

For some of us, this statement has been a yearning and a longing desire; we want Christ to be first in our lives, but to others this might seem like an extreme desire or something that isn’t for them. I’m not sure where you are or find yourself regarding Christ being supreme and the first influence in your life, but His desire for you is that you allow Him to fill your life and let every aspect of it be influenced by Him. 

He’s not looking to be put on our list of priorities, He needs and wants to be first in our lives, that when we wake up the first thought on our mind is about Him, and that everything we do is influenced by Him. 

Why must He be first?

I’m glad you ask. He is the source of Life (John 1.4), and outside of Him we can accomplish and do nothing. (John 15.5). You see, Christ Jesus besides being the source of life, is the most important person in all creation as He holds it together (col 1.17) and fills all things (Eph 4.10). 

The Word tells us that everything was created through Him and for Him (Col 1.16), and even more, “…everything comes from Him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory…” Romans 11.36, NLT. 

Right now, you are probably thinking about how Christ can be first in your life. And the first step to this is that He must be your Lord and Savior; if He is then your journey has begun, and at times it will not be easy as you would have to let some things down and follow Him where He is leading and guiding you. For many of us, this our daily life, following His leading as He calls us and draws us to Himself. 

I hope that you find Christ and His fullness, and that you draw to Him the same way He draws to you. And let Him influence your life in everything you do!

Christ First!